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The Guide to Missouri Courts


The Missouri trial court system consists of Circuit Courts and Municipal Courts.
 
Circuit Courts are the primary trial courts in Missouri and have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. Circuit Courts usually do not handle ordinance violation cases within the limited jurisdiction of Municipal Courts. Some Municipal Courts have county-wide jurisdiction and others only have local jurisdiction within a town or city.

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Please select a Missouri county below to view directory of all courts with links to court record resources for each court. Find Missouri court pages by Town or Zip Code. Select a court record or online resource category below to view all resources at both the statewide and county level. Go to the court records pages for another state.
 



 
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Missouri Circuit Courts

Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases and typically handle all cases beyond the jurisdiction of Municipal Courts.

Circuit Courts are generally organized into divisions based on case type, such as Associate Circuit, Family Court, Juvenile Court, Probate Court, Small Claims Court, Municipal Court and Traffic Court.

Associate Circuit. Within a Circuit Court, associate judges have jurisdiction over certain types of cases, such as misdemeanor criminal cases and infractions.

Family Court. A Family Court division has exclusive jurisdiction over certain types of cases. Cases heard by a Family Court division include dissolution of marriage (divorce), legal separation, annulment, maintenance (alimony), child custody, adoption, juvenile proceedings, child support, adult abuse prevention, child protection and petitions for name changes.

Juvenile Court. If no Family Court division exists in a particular Circuit Court, there may be a Juvenile Court division with jurisdiction over certain types of cases. Cases heard by a Juvenile Court division include children alleged to be in need of care and treatment, children alleged to be beyond the control of their parents, juvenile delinquency, truancy, adoption and guardianships.

Probate Court. Every Circuit Court has a Probate Court division with general equitable jurisdiction for all probate matters, such as the probate of wills, the determination of heirs, the administration of trusts and most guardianship cases.

Small Claims Court. Every Circuit Court has a Small Claims Court division that offers a simplified procedure for most general civil claims for less than $3,000, exclusive of interest or costs. A defendant may bring a counterclaim in excess of $3,000, although part or all of the case may be transferred to another court division.

Municipal Court and Traffic Court. If a county municipal court does not exist in the area, a Circuit Court may have a Municipal Court or Traffic Court division with jurisdiction over violations of municipal ordinances. Some areas may also have administrative tribunals that operate under the supervision of the Circuit Court and hear cases related to violations of parking and traffic ordinances for a municipality.

Missouri Municipal Courts

Municipal Courts have limited jurisdiction to hear cases involving violations of municipal ordinances.

Missouri Problem Solving Courts

Missouri has created several different types of specialized court divisions to handle certain types of cases. A Circuit Court may have specialized “problem-solving” divisions such as a Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Teen Court or Truancy Court.

Drug Court divisions create alternative ways of responding to certain crimes related to drug use and may offer a way for sentences and charges to be reduced, modified or dismissed.

Mental Health Court divisions focus on the mental health and disability-related needs of people involved in the criminal justice system.

Teen Court is designed as an alternative to the juvenile justice system for certain misdemeanor cases, and may offer a participant the ability to engage in restorative justice.

Truancy Court is designed to focus on the needs of children, from elementary school through high school, who are chronically absent from school but not yet charged with juvenile delinquency.

Where to find court cases in Missouri

The chart below gives general information on the types of cases heard in each type of court in Missouri.
 

Most Cases = Most or all cases.     Some Cases = Some cases.

Case Type Court Type
CivilCircuit CourtsMunicipal Courts
General Civil - Unlimited
Most or all General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
General Civil - Limited
Most or all General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Small Claims
Most or all Small Claims cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Civil Equity
Most or all Civil Equity cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Complex Commercial
Most or all Complex Commercial cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Foreclosures and Liens
Most or all Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Real Estate Title and Boundary
Most or all Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Landlord / Tenant
Most or all Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Ordinance Violations
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders
Most or all Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Administrative Agency Appeals
Most or all Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
CriminalCircuit CourtsMunicipal Courts
Felony
Most or all Felony cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Felony Preliminary Hearings
Most or all Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Misdemeanors
Most or all Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Ordinance Violations
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Juvenile
Most or all Juvenile cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Traffic and Infractions
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
Most or all Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Municipal Courts
Domestic RelationsCircuit CourtsMunicipal Courts
Divorce
Most or all Divorce cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Child Custody and Visitation
Most or all Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Child Support
Most or all Child Support cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Paternity
Most or all Paternity cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Domestic Violence Protection Order
Most or all Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
JuvenileCircuit CourtsMunicipal Courts
Adoptions
Most or all Adoptions cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Juvenile Delinquency
Most or all Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Child Abuse and Neglect
Most or all Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Termination of Parental Rights
Most or all Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Children in Need of Supervision
Most or all Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Mental HealthCircuit CourtsMunicipal Courts
Involuntary Commitments
Most or all Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Other Mental Health Cases
Most or all Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
ProbateCircuit CourtsMunicipal Courts
Wills & Estates
Most or all Wills & Estates cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Name Changes
Most or all Name Changes cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Trusts
Most or all Trusts cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 
Guardianships and Conservatorships
Most or all Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Circuit Courts
 


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